Resident Conduct Process

Our goal is to develop living environments that promote learning opportunities, personal growth, and personal development. To accomplish this, it is critical that individuals respect the rights of their fellow residents, including the right to:

sleep and study without undue interference

a comfortable level of personal privacy

a clean and welcoming living environment

freedom from harassment and intimidation

support from the residence staff

Creating community in a successful living and learning environment requires a commitment to behavioral standards. All residents bear the responsibility to act in accordance with local, state, and national laws, Purdue University Calumet Regulations Governing Student Conduct and Housing and Residential Education (HRE) community rules and regulations. Violations of the HRE Rules and Regulations may result in HRE resident conduct proceedings, University disciplinary action, and/or criminal prosecution. The HRE Primary Resident Conduct Officer and/or designated University Administrators will review alleged violations for appropriate referral to the HRE Resident Conduct Process, University disciplinary system, and/or criminal prosecution. Each incident will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Violation Levels

Any resident who is found in violation of offenses with a label of “A” may be recommended for removal from housing without receiving any prior written and/or verbal warnings. Examples of “A” offenses include, but are not limited to: drug possession, violence, physical altercation, sexual assault, tampering with fire and safety equipment, and smoking in University Village.

Any resident in violation of the offenses with a label of “B” may receive at least one written warning regarding their violation of the rules within the facility. Each case will be determined on a case-by-case basis as to the number of offenses before the resident is separated from the University Village community. Examples of “B” offenses include, but are not limited to, use of candles or incense and improper trash disposal.

Responsibility for Correspondence

All conduct correspondence will be sent via email. Once information has been disseminated to one these mediums of communication, the resident will be considered to be notified.

Hearing

If the resident is referred to the HRE Resident Conduct Process, they can expect the following:

The resident will receive a notice regarding the alleged violations of HRE Rules and Regulations and/or Student Code of Conduct via their PUC email account.

When the resident attends the hearing they can expect the following:

To be informed of the circumstances of the alleged violation(s) and the information gathered during the Resident Conduct Process inquiry.

To provide the conduct officer with the names of any witnesses, evidence, or any relevant information on the resident’s own behalf.

To be provided with the opportunity to ask questions.

Unable to Attend Hearing

If the resident is unable to attend the scheduled resident conduct hearing, he/she will be expected to communicate the scheduling conflict to the resident conduct officer prior to the date of the hearing. An unexcused absence from a resident conduct hearing may result in a resolution being made without input from the resident. The resolution may include the resident being found responsible and receiving a resident conduct sanction. If a resident does not appear for his or her hearing and the case is resolved in their absence, that is not grounds for an appeal.

Resolution

Resident conduct cases will be resolved as quickly as investigative inquiries will allow. Some resident conduct cases may result in the resident being found not responsible for the violation of policy. In these cases, no further conduct action will be taken, however, appropriate referrals to other university resources may be provided. Other resident conduct cases may result in the resident being found responsible for the violation of policy.

Sanctions

In conduct cases where a resident is found responsible for violating policy, resident conduct resolutions may include:

Written Warning: Written warning means that the student is warned and if the resident is found responsible for violating the same policy or any other policies of The University Village Resident Handbook the resident will be subject to further resident conduct proceedings. A written warning does not affect a student’s resident conduct standing.

Educational Sanction: Educational assignments/sanctions are issued on a case-by-case basis as determined by the Resident Conduct Hearing Officer assigned to the case. We want residents to learn from the experience that resulted in their referral to the HRE Resident Conduct Process and we believe the educational assignments/sanctions we provide will help residents meet that goal. Educational Sanctions may include a reflection paper, community service component, assisting with a program, helping construct a bulletin board, etc.

Housing Probation: Housing probation means that for a period of time, that will be defined in the decision letter, the resident is placed on housing probation and if they are found responsible for violating any policies in the future, they will be subject to further conduct proceedings, including separation from housing. Housing probation does affect a student’s resident conduct standing.

Fine or Damage/Replacement Charge: See page 18 in this Resident Handbook for more information about fees and fines for The University Village community.

Separation from Housing: Separation from housing means that the resident must vacate University Village. The resident is issued a no trespass order for one year from the date of their separation. The resident is also financially responsible for the remainder of their entire housing contract.

Referral to the Office of the Dean of Students

All resident conduct cases of alcohol (of significance), drugs, sexual harassment, physical altercations, or weapons may be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students for adjudication. The Primary Resident Conduct Officer may refer resident conduct cases to the Office of the Dean of Students involving multiple or repeated violations of the Housing and Residential Education Rules and Regulations and/or Purdue University Calumet’s Regulations Governing Student Conduct.

Decisions rendered by the Office of the Dean of Students

All conduct cases that are adjudicated by the Office of the Dean of Students or a representative of the Office of the Dean of Students where a resident is either suspended or expelled would result in the resident being separated from housing. If a resident is separated from housing due to conduct, the resident is still financially responsible for their entire housing contract.

Summary Exclusion from The University Village Community

A resident charged with a violation of any rule subject to these regulations may be summarily excluded from The University Village community without the issuance of a written notice and without the procedures previously outlined in this document. The summary exclusion is pending the completion of the Housing and Residential Education Resident Conduct Process and/or University disciplinary process on the conditions specifically outlined at the time of the exclusion.

The Director, Assistant Director, and/or University Administrators may order summary exclusion; and when feasible, the resident shall be given an opportunity to be heard at a formal hearing to be scheduled outside of The University Village community. Summary exclusion shall be ordered if the designated resident conduct officer is satisfied that the continued presence of the resident in The University Village community threatens physical harm to the resident or to any other person or to the property of the University or of others, or when there is reasonable cause to believe that the resident’s presence will lead to further disciplinary action. When summary exclusion is invoked, the Resident Conduct Process shall be expedited pending further inquiry into the incident(s) in question.

The Appeals Process

If a resident wishes to appeal the decision from the resident conduct proceeding, they have five (5) business days from the date provided on the decision letter to appeal the decision. If the Resident Conduct Proceeding was heard in Housing and Residential Education, the letter of appeal should be sent to the Assistant Director of Housing and Residential Education. If the Resident Conduct Case was heard by the Assistant Director, the letter of appeal should be sent to the Director of Housing and Residential Education. The appeal letter must meet at least one of the conditions for appeal outlined below:

There is significant and new information related to the case that was not available at the time of the initial hearing.

There is evidence that the University failed to follow established procedures.

The sanction is grossly disproportionate to the offense.

If and only if one of these conditions is met, will the appeal request advance to a resident conduct appeals hearing. If a resident does not appear for his or her hearing and the case is resolved in their absence, that is not grounds for an appeal.